Device for adjustably interfitting two coactive members



NOV# 6, 1951 F. A. KANE, JR., ETAL 2,574,109

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLY INTERFITTING TWO COACTIVE MEMBERS Filed Feb. 17, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 'lllllll/lll//l/lll/ll.l//L VIII/111111111111111!! 111111111111111,vllrllllll Y INVENTORS FRANK A. KANE, JR.

G/RA R0 F OBEHHE/VDEH ATTORNEY N0V 6, 1951 F. A. KANE, JR., ET AL 2,574,109

l DEVICE F'OR ADJUSTABLY INTERFITTING TWO COACTIVE MEMBERS Filed Feb. 17, 1949 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 F/G. I3.

m Y O R E T e0.. M ijm am o XITWJR .n lx K5 AJM n MM u A AM@ 5/ mw Patented Nov. 6, 1951 DEVICE Fon ADJUSTABLY INTERF'rrfrING "rWo ooAoTlvE MEMBERS Frank A. Kane, Jr., Stratford, Conn., and Girard F. Oberrender, New York, N. Y.

' Application February 17, 1949, Serial No. 76,932

rihis invention relates to a device for adjustably intertting two coactive members-more particularly to a cylindrical member-with an annular spreading portion adapted for adjustable use in pistons, as a holding element in couplings, and for other analogous uses as will more clearly hereinafter appear. f

It is primarily within the contemplation of our invention to provide an inner cylindrical spread-- ing or expanding member operated by a preferably manually manipulated forcing member or spreader, so as to vary the diameter of the eylindrical member within predetermined limits whereby it may cooperate with an outer cylindrical member to produce either (l) various degrees of sliding ts or (2) certain types of friction grips.

In the first-mentioned aspect of this invention, the coacting spreading and forcing members are conveniently adapted for use as plungers or pis-v tons; and for illustrative purposes, the drawings and description hereinafter given show its application to a syringe suchVL as is used by physicians for irrigation and hypodermic injection purposes.

In the second aspect of our'invention, the said coacting members areconveniently adapted for use in various types of coupling'devices wherein the spreading or expanding action 'of the device serves to hold the two complementary assembly elements in releasablel but firm frictional engagement. For the purposes of this specification, the coupling embodiment of the invention is shown as applied to garden hoses and analogous vconduit devices.

In using conventional syringes, physicians generally rind it necessary to Areplace worn-out plungers; and such replacements-'generally en- -tail considerable cost, since each syringe must have its own specially fitted plunger, rinterchan-geability ofplungers not being practicable because of the need for hand fitting. Furthermore, where a physician employs a number of syringes, it is necessary to observe considerable caution inremoving the plungers forsterilization, etc., and reassemblingthem; and it has been found that considerable time is lost in matching disassembled.plungerswith their corresponding cylinders. Y

It is an important object v of our invention to eliminate the above-mentioned shortcomings of conventional syringes, by providing a readily adjustable plunger, so that the plunger element can be adjustably expanded after wear to suit the needs and individual technique of thephysician, by a simple manual manipulation.V VA`And it is also an object to employ thelhsv'am'e adjustngmechais claims. (otage-s6) i nism for use in other types of reciprocating pis-` ton structures.

- It is alsojan Vobject of thisvinvention to prevent operative wear of the spreading member beyond a predetermined point, and to provide means; for

enabling the user of the device readily to ascer tain when suchpcint has been reached. .l

A further object of this invention is to provide a simpiemechanism capable of performing the aforesaid functions, and adapted for ready fabrication andV simple assembly, and capable of perf. mitting the ready replacement of worn-outspreading parts with new parts.

'With respect to the coupling embodiment of our invention,it isV an importantobjectto pro-4 vide means for effecting a coupling and uncou-f pling actionr by a simple manual manipulation,

thereby obviatingthe, necessity of revolving one;

ofthe-.coupling elementsthrough a number :of revolutions asv occurs` Where threaded couplings are employed. 1"

And stillanother; object of the last-mentioned embodiment ofthe invention is to provide `both secure 'lockingmeans as well as a leak-proof design, whereby the device is particularly adaptable for use Withwater pipes.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear in the drawings and description hereinafter given.

Referring` to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, with a fragment removed, of a physicians syringe showing one, form of my invention. 1 -Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of Fig; 1, showing. the relativepositions of the spreading and forcing members before there has beenany appreciable wear.

Figure'S is an end View of Fig. 2. Figure 4 is a view substantially like Fig. 2, but showing the spreading member in a somewhat expanded condition, after some wear.

Figure 5 is a viewsubstantially like Fig. V`4,

showing the spreading member in a further ex-V panded condition due to further wear, the deflec` tion being exaggerated for clarity. Figure 6 is an rexploded Vperspective View, of fragments' lof vthe spreading member-and y.the forcing-member. Y

y Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, of amodified form of my invention, showingthe spreading member with two op-V positely disposed annular expanding portions.

vFigure 8 .is a view like Fig. 7 of another modi-v cation showing two spreading members actuated Aby forcing members, this form being adapted Figure 13 is a part elevational and part sec-Y tional view of a coupling device substantially in accordance with the construction of Fig. 12;

shown coupling together a garden` hose and. a.

nozzle, and

Figure 14 is a part elevational and a part sec-I tional view of another modified form of my invention, showing a coupling securing. together` two sections of a. garden hose, the doti-dash: lines indicating. the female portion detached position..

the embodiment of our invention. illustrated inliigs. 1 to 6, the syringe.- memberv toy which. the invention is` appliedA consists of. an. outer. cylindrical shell I5 of conventional syringe structure containing therein the: sli'dable. plunger I6 embodying, our invention (to. be; more specifically hereinafter described) said plunger-:having associated therewith aA shaft I1 extending through. end aperture I8 of. the.v cylindrical shell I5v andv terminating inthe ring. element I9 adapted to coact with ring members 2|). and 2| when operatively manipulated` in` known manner'.

The plunger ldcontains, inthe preferred form illustrated, a cylindrical ring. or spreading. member 22 containing a relatively thin annular end wall 23, the outer surface 24. of said member 22, including outer surface 24a of portion. 23, being. adapted for slidable. engagement with. the inner wallA 254 of cylindricallshell: I5. Theinner body. portion 26 of. theA plunger contains the forcing member or spreader 2:1. and. the shaft. anchor member 28, members 21 and 28 beingin telescopic` slidable engagement, member b.; ing male member and 21. the female. member. More specifically, forcing member 21 contains the eylin drical wall 29 and therc'entral cavity 30and-member 2i!VV containsv enlarged portion. 3I and the centrat boss 32 extending into. cavity 30 and in slidable engagement with the. inner surface of wall 29. The outer surface 33. of: portion` 3I andthe outer surface 34 of wall: 29J are both slidably engageable. withl the inner-smface Saof the spreading member 22. Member 28 contains the outer flange 36 in abuttingl engagementwith the outer terminal 31 of spreading ring 22'.. Forcing member. 21 contains thev rear flanged portion 38-containing the lateral. forwardly disposed: tapered` wall' 39 whichis adapted, as will morer clearly hereinafter appear, tolserve as a wedge forV entering the annular space 40 between Walls 23 and 29.

The shaft I1 contains the collar 4I which is in abutment with` the rear surface 42 of flange 38, the shaft also containing a. forwardly extend'- ing stud portion 43 in threaded engagement with the threaded aperture 44= within member 28, the aperture 45` in flange 38 being sumciently large to serve as a clearing hole for said stud 43.

`The member 22 islnormally of a predetermined diameter adapted for sliding movement within cylindrical shell I5. Should it however'be desired to` increase the friction between the said mem- GIL ber and the inner surface 25 of shell I5, or should it be necessary to increase the diameter of an operative portion of said member 22 because of wear, al1 that need be done is to rotate shaft I1 in the proper direction so as to draw members 21 and 28 together dueto the threaded engagement of stud 43 and threaded aperture 44, the rear collar" 4IE forcing member 21! towards member 28, and the front cellar 3Q beingin pressing engagement with terminal 31 of member 22. For best operative results, it is preferred to apply a slight lateralv pressure towards a portion of the lateral. wall of` cylindrical shell I5, so that the member 2`2 will be frictionally held against rotation; while member I1 is being adjustably rotailed'.

Upon. thlev rotation of shaft I1 as aforesaid, and upon the consequent drawing together of the* male and female members 21 and 28, the tapered edge 39 will operate somewhat in the manner of a wedge, forcinzthe thin annular wall 23Y against the inner surface of shell. I5'.. The. amount of. expansion of annular wall 23 andthe frictional` pressure it` exerts.` against the embracing shell isk obviously' dependent. upon the amount of adusting. turning: of'. shaft I1'. When the desired point is reached, as can be: determined by a trial slidable' manipulatiomof. the plunger, the rotation is discontinued.

It is important; to. noter that thei material out of whichl member 221smade should preferably be somewhat tampered..` with` a slight spring, so that uponV a retreating. rotation of shaft.- I1, its resiliency willicause: it toa return to its original position. It has been.found..however,A that. since the actual amount. of. weer is small, being measurable in thousands. ot. an inch, the amount of displacement. of said", shell 23 due to.v the wedging. action of forcing. member 21 isr relatively slight, so that with practically am metaL such asbrass or steel, there wilt be snfncientspringback after said. member 21 isfretractcdl.

It is preferableiirrtiiscotitinuev the use of member 22 when its annular, portion 23 becomes foo thin. Accordingly,v the thickness. of flanged'. portion 38,4 or the; length of cylindricalA wall 29, is so predetermined that annular wall; 46 thereof engages the annular: shoulder 41. of member 22 and/or wall- 29a engages, wall. lia.. when wall 23 is reduced. tov a. predetermined thickness. When there is abutment between said surfaces` 48 and 41,. or walls; 29a ami itIfapthat` will be a signal to the operator that the device is to be disassembled, and a new spreading member 22. substituted in place of the wor-none.

In the modification shown in Figure '1, the forcing memberA 21av is substantially like the corresponding member- 21 of. the. form above described; but the coasting member 48, while serving toa receive. the threaded portion of the stud 43a in. thev manner: of portion. 28, nevertheless serves? a.. somewhat. differentI purpose in that it contains. a frontfl'anged portion 4'9' corresponding in action. to the rearlflanged portion 39a, both l flanged portions containing tapered walls 39a and' 39h serving as'Y oppositel'ydisposed forcing or wedging members operable uponY the opposite terminalsI of spreading member 22a; It will be noted that member 22m dimers from the corresponding member 22" above described in that it has two annular end walls 23a and 23h, both operatively engaged by said tapered surfaces 39a and 3917, respectively. Thus, upon an operative rotation of shaft F1a' in` the manner aforesaid, members ZI'and 48 will be drawn towards each other, to cause a spreading orexpanding action of the thin walls 23a and .2317. (It is accordingly obvious that in this modification the action is like that of the first form illustrated,.except that the plunger 16a is expandable at .both its terminal ends, rather than at one end as shown in the rst form referred to.

In the modification shown in Figure 8, there are two forcing members 2lb and 21o, both oppositely disposed and mounted over the stud 43h of shaft 11b, the threaded portion 50 of said stud being in threaded engagement withthe recessed portion 5| of member 21e, the central aperture 52 of member 21h being proportioned to slidably receive therethrough the shank of said stud 43h.

Each of said forcing members 2lb and 21e contains thereover a spreading member, the former coacting with the spreading .member 22h, and the latter with the spreading member 22e; Each of said spreading members is provided with oppositely disposed thin annular terminal walls 53, substantially like the terminal walls 23a and 23h of Fig. 7. Also mounted over both of said forcing members 2lb and 21o is the fioating ring 54 having oppositely disposed tapered annular edges 55. These edges coact with the oppositely disposed tapered edges 56 of members 21h and 21e, to produce a spreading action of said walls 53 when the shaft Hd is rotatively manipulated. In other words, upon an operative rotation of said shaft Ilb, both forcing members 21h and 21c are brought together, whereupon the thin annular walls 53 are urged outwardly due to the engaging action of tapered surfaces 55 and 56. This form of my invention is particularly adapted for plungers of relatively greater length than those shown in the forms above described; and although the drawing shows but two sets of spreading members B2b and 22e, it is obvious that any number of additional members can be added depending upon the length of the plunger or piston.

Figure l0 shows the application of my invention to a coupling device. In this construction, the coupling consists of a male portion51 and a female portion 58, the male portion being adaptable to the threaded terminal 59 of hose 60, and the female member being adaptable to the threaded portion 6I of the female terminal fitting 62 of hose portion 63.

The male portion 51 of the coupling consists of a nut portion 64 internally threaded so as to engage said threaded portion 59, and having integrally therewith a cylindrical portion 64a, the terminal part 65 thereof being threaded. Mounted over the outer surface of said portion 64a is the spreading member 66, the terminal annular portion 61 being of reduced thickness, substantially in the manner of annular wall 23 of the first form above described. In threaded engagement with said portion 65 is the forcing or wedging member 68 containing a tapered surface 69 adapted to engage the said annular wall 61, and extending into the space 99 bounded by said wall 61. Holding said forcing member 68 against'disengagement is the flanged gland 10 extending within member 64a, the flange 1l thereof abutting the annular terminal 12 of member 64a as well as the recessed shoulder 13 of forcing member 68.

The female portion 58 of the coupling consists of the nut portion 14 and the cylindricalv portion 15 exteriorly threaded at 16 for threaded engagement with member 62. The said cylindrical portion has a hollow interior extending from CJI is integral with pipe section 84.

the end portion 14 to the transverse wal1'11, said wall being engageable with the outermost terminal 18 of said forcing member 68.

When the parts are in their assembled position as shown in Fig. 10, a rotary manipulation of member 62 will cause the entire female portion 58 to rotate therewith, because of the internal threaded arrangement; and if during such rotation a pressure is applied in the direction of the arrow A, surface 11 will frictionally bear against the annular terminal 18 of the forcing member 68, and will cause it to rotate around the threaded portion 65. Such rotation of forcing member 6-8 will cause it to move forwardly within recess 99, due to the thread at 65, whereby wall 69 will cause the thin annular wall 61 to spread outwardly and come into frictional engagement with the internal surface 19 of member 58. It has been found that a relatively small rotary movement in the manner above described will cause a firm locking engagement between the outer surface of annular wall 61 and the inner surface 19 of member 58. Similarly, an opposite rotation of member 62 will cause a release of the frictionally engaged parts, since the natural elasticity of wall 61 will cause it to return to its normalposition. It is thus obvious that this device can effectively serve as a coupling for mutual engagement and disengagement of complementary parts of such members as tube, pipe sections and the like.

Figure 12 shows another adaptation of my invention, the male portion 59a being threaded over the outlet portion of the faucet 8|'. The construction is substantially like that of Figures 10 and l1, the forcing member 68a being operatively engageable with the thin annular Wall 61a of the spreading member 66a. Upon an operative rotation of the female terminal fitting 62a, the inner surface 11a will frictionally engage the adjacent surface 18a. of the forcing or Wedge member 68a, andeifect a frictional locking of the two complementary members, in the manner aforesaid.

Similarly, in the nozzle coupling arrangement ofl Fig. 13, a rotation of nozzle 82 will cause thev surface Y11b to engage the forcing member 68h, and-produce a frictional locking by spreading the thin annular wall 61h.

In Figure 14, the female portion 58e is integral with pipe section 83, and the male portion 51e The elements are substantially the same as in the form of Fig. l0, except that the inner wall 85 of the female member 58o is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coupling; and the outer an;V

nular surface 86 of theforcing member 68e is correspondingly inclined. It has been found that this arrangement produces an effective frictional engagement between surfaces 85 and 86, so that upon an operative rotation of member 58o, the forcing ring 68e more readily rotates upon the thread of portion 64e of the male member 51e, and produces the spreading action of annular wall 61e in the manner aforesaid.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations arespecified in the appended claims.

zwe. claim? V1`. In a devicey for justablyintertting two` coactive members, the combinationvoff an outer'y member-andiaicoacting inner member; theouter member havingan internal cylindricab wall; the. inner member: containing; a'. relatively thick. asv--l lindrioal portion having. at. an: end. thereof,. a relatively' thin annular spreading. wall.- encome-` passing an inner annular recess, the outer sur--` faces of `said.cylindrical portion-and. said spread'- ingwall bothbeing slidably engageable with: said. internal cylindrical wall, and` awedge. member: withuan. inclined. operative wall. extendable` infn.1 said-.recess andiengageable with the inner. surface.y ofi saidannular` spreading wall, said wedge meme` ber being movable in the direction of'. the axis` ont-he said,` cylindrical portion, whereby uporr a; movement of the wedge` member. intosaid. recess; thesaid operativewallwill be brought into press-.-y ingA engagement withsaid annularwall to cause` a@ spreading thereof towards said internal.: cylin dricalV wail of the outer member, they relatively thick cylindrical` portion retaining its originali diameter. l

2. In. av device for adjustably1` interfrttingtwo coactive members, the combination according, to; claim` 1, the. saidv annular spreading wally being of.suilcient spring temper to permit it.` to return tosubstantially its original position. upon an, op-r erative` retraction of said wedge member inv a direction away from said annular recess.

3; In a device for adjust-.ably interiitting two coactive members, the combinationaccording to claim l, the said annular. spreading;v wall being of. spring, temper.

4. In a` device for adjustably intertting two, coactive members, the combination according to claimv l, said annular spreading wall being pro-- portioned to permit it to be operatively spread intofrictional engagement with said inner cylin.- drical wall.

5. In an adjustable plunger construction. the combination of an outer cylindrical shell, a c0 acting plunger therein, and a rod secured to the plunger. andextending axially through said shell; said shell. having an internal cylindrical wall;V said plunger comprising a relatively thick cylindrical ring provided at. an. end thereof with.. a. relatively thin annular spreading wall. encompassing aninner annular recess, the .outer Surface of` said ring and wall being slidabl'y engageable. with saidinternal cylindrical wall,` and a wedge member with an inclined operative wall" extendableV into said recess and' vengagea'ble with theV inner surface of said spreading Wall; said rod being engageable with saidA wedge` memberv for moving itl axially within said shell, whereby'upon an operative movement of'th :--wedgev member into said recess said operative-wallwill be brought into pressing engagement with said` annularN vvallv tocause a spreading thereof towards` said internal cylindrical Wall, theY relatively thick cylindrical ring retaining itsorig-inal diameter.

6. In an adjustable plunger construction, theAJ combination according toA claim 5, the plunger being further provided With-anA anchor-member, said rod having a collar engageable with said wedge member and a stud portion in` threadedA engagement with the anchor member, whereby upona rotation of the rod the collar thereofwill force the wedge member towards the anchormember and into said annular recessto" cause an operative spreading action of'v said thirr annulan wall. y

7. In an adjustable: plunger: construction; the; 761 jacent annular walls'tolbringithe two-cylindrica1 :recording` tozclaim 6;. said wedge:v

aridi anchor.I members. being in telescopic slidable engagement..

8;.In; an: adjustable. plunger.l construction, the combination accordingl to. claim 7, said anchor member containing a ilangeinabutting engagement with the end of the. said ring opposite said? armulan'spreading wall..

91. mi an adjustable plunger.' construction, the:

combination: according to claim 8,. said anchor; member having?.A a.. boss extending. into the ringr the: said'. wedgei member having a. hollowcylindrical. portiom extending .into the. opposite end of; the n'ng, a portion; ofi said. boss. extending 1 into theY saidhollow. cylindrical.: portion of the.

wedgeimember-u 10. Intanradjustable, plunger construction, the

combination; according: .to claim 5, said plungerl being provided:l with stop means engageable with the;wedgeimemberpwhereby theoperative movementA of; saidwedgemember into the recess will be: limitedz by` said. stop means.

1l. In aniadjustablefplunger construction, the combinationaccording to claim 5, said thin annularwall forming an annular shoulder on the ring;. said-.wedge member being, engageable with said` shoulder, to: limit the operative movement ofi the wedge: member intothe recess;

12; in an. adjustable plunger construction, the combination of an outer cylindrical shell, a coacting plunger-therein, and a. rod secured to the plunger'and' extending axially through said shell; said shell having an internal cylindrical wall; said plunger; comprising a relatively thick cy- .lind1'ical ringj provided at its opposite ends `with twofrelatively thin annular spreading Walls each encompassingl an annular recess, the outer surfaces of said ring and walls being slidably. engageablezwithfsaidinternal cylindrical wall, and two'foppositely disposed wedge 'members each with an inclined operative` wall, said inclined walls being extendable into said recesses and engageable withA the inner' surfaces ofsaid annular Wallsi, Safid. wedge members being operatively movable towards each other, wherebyA both of saidioperative walls will be brought into pressing engagementwith the adjacent annular walls to causea: spreading, thereof towards said internal cylindrical wall the relatively thick cylindrical ring retaining its original diameter.

13; In. anadjustable plunger construction, the combination of an outer cylindrical shell1 a coacting,I plunger therein.` and a rod secured to the plunger; and extending axially through said shell;

said-A shell having an internal cylindrical wall;

- recess,the outer. surfaces of` said ringsv and walls being slidably engageable with said. internal cy-A lindricalv wall, two oppositely disposed outer Wedgejmernbersf each with an inclined operative wallfextendable; intothe adj acentv recess and en gageablel'with' the inner surface of thev adjacentv annularswall,.and` a floatingwed'ge ring disposed betweensaidi cylindrical rings and having oppositely disposed inclined operative wallsr each extendable: into: the adjacent. inner. recess and engageable with the inner surface of the adjacent inner annular'wall, said" outer' wedge members being: operatively kmovable towards each other,. whereby both of their operative inclinedl walls willi bef brought-Vinto-engagement with the ady rings into operative engagement with said floating wedge ring to cause a spreading of said annular Walls towards said internal cylindrical wall, the relatively thick cylindrical rings retaining their original diameters.

14. In a coupling construction, the combination of a male member and a coacting female member; the female member having an internal cylindrical Wall; the male member having a hol- 10W cylindrical portion the outer terminal surface of which is threaded, a relatively thick cylindrical ring provided at an end thereof with a relatively thin annular spreading wall encompassing an inner annular recess, the outer surface of said ring and wall being slidably engageable with said internal cylindrical wall, and a cylindrical wedge member mounted over and in threaded engagement with said outer terminal surface, said wedge member having an outer inclined operative wall extendable into said recess and engageable With the inner surface of said spreading wall, whereby upon an operative rotation of the wedge member towards said ring, the said operative wall will be brought into pressing engagement with said annular wall to cause a spreading thereof towards said internal cylindrical wall, said annular wall being proportioned to permit it to be operatively spread into frictional engagement with said internal cylindrical wall, the relatively thick cylindrical ring retaining its original diameter.

15. In a coupling construction, the combination according to claim 14, further provided with a flanged gland extending into said hollow cylindrical portion of the male member, the flange of said gland being abuttable with said wedge member, whereby it will be held against detachment.

16. In a coupling construction, the combination according to claim 14, the female member being provided with a transverse Wall frictional- 10 ly engageable with the adjacent portion of the Wedge member, whereby a rotation of the female member will cause the wedge member operatively to rotate over said threaded cylindrical position.

17. In a coupling construction, the combination according to claim 16, said transverse wall containing la peripheral inclined portion, said wedge member containing an adjacent inclined portion, both inclined portions being frictionally engageable.

18. In a device for adjustably interfitting two coactive members, the combination according to claim 5, further provided with an annular shoulder at the inner end of said spreading wall, said annular shoulder forming stop means for the operative movement of said wedge member, whereby said wedge member will engage said stop means when said annular spreading wall has been reduced to a predetermined thickness.

FRANK A. KANE, JR. GIRARD F. OBERRENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

